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Robert Warren Bumbaugh Sr., 80

Robert Warren Bumbaugh Sr. came roaring into the world, a whopping 11 pounds 12 ounces, on Sept. 8, 1937. On Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018, he flew up to be with his Lord.

Robert was born in Los Angeles to Warren and Nina Bumbaugh and lived his early years in parts of California and Oregon until settling in Fontana in 1948. It was there when he was 10 years old that the pastor of the Nazarene church reached out to the family and began taking he and his sister to church. It wasn’t too long after that he gave his heart to the Lord and has kept him there ever since.

It was at the Fontana church that he met and became friends with Jerry Baker; a friendship that lasted 70 years. He and Jerry formed a quartet and sang at different churches and events.

It was also at that church during his senior year of high school that he met the final love of his life, Betty Harkless, who was a sophomore at that time. Betty’s family moved to New Castle, Pa., at the end of her sophomore year. Not wanting to let her go, Robert went to work for Kaiser Steel, paid off his car, and saved money to move out to Pennsylvania to be with Betty until they got married. It didn’t take long. They were married in April of her junior year of high school, 1956.

Their first home was a converted train car. They made many happy memories there. They also made their first born there, Robert Warren Bumbaugh Jr. Wanting to be by her mother while she was expecting, Robert and Betty moved to Newton Falls, Ohio. Robert went to work for a plant making doors, windows and trim, and then joined the painting crew at Kent State University. Bobby was born Aug. 19, 1957.

Shortly after that they moved back to Redding, Calif., where they continued building the house they had started before moving to Ohio. They also began building son No. 2, Scott Arthur Bumbaugh who was born at Redding Memorial Hospital on June 11, 1959. His job ended there and he had the opportunity to move his family back to the beginning in Fontana and got a job painting houses. This is where his future began. He joined the Union as an apprentice and went to night school to become a journeyman painter. He also made another addition to his future, and on Aug. 28, 1961, Betty gave birth to their third and last child, Cheryllyn Jean Bumbaugh.

Robert and the family lived and worked in Southern California until deciding to move to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in 1969. He owned his own business painting houses and taught both his boys and some of their friends the trade. With an overhead camper, guns and fishing poles, the family spent days and weeks enjoying the beauty of the mountains and rivers and outdoor life that Idaho had to offer.

In 1979, he got the itch to move to Alaska. There he found himself. Bobby and Cheryllyn with her husband, Kelly, followed him up and helped him and Betty build a log home by hand. There he also fulfilled a lifelong dream to get his pilot’s license. He bought a Piper Tri Pacer and flew it as much as he could. More than anything else, he loved flying. He said that was where he felt closest to God. The boys worked with him painting houses in Soldotna, Alaska. Then Robert went to work on an oil platform in Cook Inlet and later the Prudhoe Bay oil fields painting the oil equipment. Robert was listed in Who’s Who in the West, Distinguished Man in the Oil Industry, and named Alaska’s Man of the Year.

In 2006, Robert and Betty went back to Coeur d’Alene to celebrate their 50-year anniversary. Robert’s health did not permit him to move again and here they have made their home ever since.

On his death bed, he heard airplanes flying over the house that no one else heard. He said there were two more coming and he would catch a ride on the last one. He did and made that flight to be with his Lord.

Robert is survived by his wife of almost 63 years, Betty Jean; his sons, Robert Jr. (April) and Scott (Norma); and daughter Cheryllyn (Kelly); 13 grandchildren; and many, many great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nina and Warren; and, just two weeks ago, his brother Raymond.

A memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at the Coeur d’Alene Church of the Nazarene.

In lieu of flowers, Robert wished for his friends and family to make a donation in his name to the Senior Benevolent Fund at the Coeur d’Alene Church of the Nazarene.

English Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit www.englishfuneralchapel.com to view Robert’s online memorial.